Overview of Youth Development in Ghana
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT COMMONWEALTH Overview of Youth Development in Ghana Over the past two decades, Ghana has improved its social, Commonwealth Secretariat economic and political structures and reduced inequalities across its population. Nevertheless, a variety of socio- economic issues still have a particular impact on the youth demographic, including underemployment, a lack of access to quality education, poverty, crime, migration and low civic OVERVIEW OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN GHANA participation. As the majority of Ghana’s population is under the age of 25, improvements for this demographic have the potential to facilitate a more sustainable and resilient society long-term. This book presents pragmatic policy- and programme- related recommendations for how Ghana can move forward, mainstreaming youth issues in its development strategies. For each socio-economic issue, it provides a baseline evaluation that can inform revisions of current policies as well as support the creation of new policies to ensure future success in youth development. Overview of Youth Development in Ghana Commonwealth Secretariat Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom © Commonwealth Secretariat 2021 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or otherwise without the permission of the publisher. Published by the Commonwealth Secretariat Typeset by NovaTechset, Chennai, India Printed by APS Group Views and opinions expressed in this publication are the responsibility of the author(s) and should in no way be attributed to the institutions to which they are affiliated or to the Commonwealth Secretariat. Wherever possible, the Commonwealth Secretariat uses paper sourced from responsible forests or from sources that minimise a destructive impact on the environment. Copies of this publication may be obtained from: Publications Section Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6534 Email: [email protected] Web: https://books.thecommonwealth.org/ A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library. ISBN (paperback): 978-1-84929-197-2 ISBN (e-book): 978-1-84859-989-5 iii Foreword by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Ghana Government recognises the growing potential of Ghanaian youth in our nation- building efforts, especially as we strive to pursue H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid. However, in view of the challenges and the incipient issues, as well as the growing needs and aspirations of Ghanaian youth in a lower-middle-income economy, it has become imperative to understand the current needs and experiences of this group. This is essential if we are to be able to design appropriate and responsive evidence-based interventions to improve the conditions of our youth. It is in this regard that the Ministry of Youth and Sports, through the National Youth Authority with funding and technical support from the Commonwealth Secretariat, has pioneered this first-ever comprehensive overview of youth development in Ghana. This report tracks the story of youth development in the country in greater detail, pointing to where progress is being made and the areas that require more attention and investment. In addition, this report represents a response to the urgent need to understand the everyday lives of young people in Ghana. In line with key development frameworks like the African Union’s Agenda 2063, it offers insights that can contribute to the transformation of Ghana’s youth population and subsequently allow the country to harness the demographic dividend concomitant with successful population transitions through childhood to adulthood, and to achieve the global 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Ultimately, the report presents a baseline evaluation or situational analysis that can inform revisions of current policies or support the creation of new policies on priority issues for youth development. Specifically, I am glad to note that the content of this report informed in large part the situational analysis chapter of the Reviewed National Youth Policy of Ghana (2021–2031). The Government of Ghana led by H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is fully determined to ensure the comprehensive development of youth. This is being enabled through coordinated efforts to ensure that national development policies, programmes and projects across all sectors mainstream youth issues. This effort has been given special attention in the Government’s Medium-Term Development Framework – namely, the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies 2017–2024 as presented to Parliament and the Ghana Beyond Aid Charter. The aim is to ensure that the youth of the country are fully equipped with employable skills; to strengthen the link between education and the labour market; to build the capacity of youth to discover opportunities; and to bolster key national iv Overview of Youth Development in Ghana structures to bring up competent and responsible young people who enjoy moral and physical health and who are capable of integrating into the international youth arena and participating in global economic, political and humanitarian development. As the Ministry responsible for youth development, we have learnt through this report that social integration of young people with disabilities and other disadvantaged youth living in troubled families is still a very acute issue. The Ministry has recognised the importance of developing and effectively implementing policies aimed at improving the condition of these categories of young people. As such, a thematic area under the Reviewed National Youth Policy has been devoted to dealing with cross-cutting issues, with the appropriate policy objective and strategies to address youth needs. In this respect, this Overview of Youth Development in Ghana, initiated by the National Youth Authority and the Commonwealth Secretariat, makes a vital contribution to youth development programming, clarifying targets and directions in finding solutions to the various challenges confronting youth. It is worth reiterating that the publication of this report is very timely in the measure that it has given great inspiration to the content of the Reviewed National Youth Policy, which is in its final stages. The report contains a thorough analysis of the condition of Ghanaian youth based on statistical data and on the results of research. The Ministry of Youth and Sports agrees with the overall conclusions and recommendations of the report and considers them well founded and of undeniable practical interest to the work of Government. We would like to express our gratitude to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, and also to the author of this report for preparing this very informative and up-to- date document on the state of Ghanaian youth. Hon. Mustapha Ussif Minister for Youth and Sports, Ghana v Statement by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Ghana The 1992 Constitution of Ghana has the vision of building a fair and equitable society where every citizen has the opportunity to live a long, productive and meaningful life. The Constitution is therefore set up to protect the fundamental rights of all citizens, irrespective of age, to enable them to take an active part in national development. This aspiration is the bedrock of the directives and principles of state policy. Based on this vision, the Government has been pursuing socio-economic policies, programmes and projects in all sectors of the economy to advance the social, political and economic well-being of the people of Ghana. According to statistics, Ghana has made significant strides in terms of economic growth and improving the general living conditions of its citizens since the adoption of the Fourth Republican Constitution in 1992. There has been a significant reduction in poverty and employment, an improvement in school enrolment and progress with regard to infrastructure development, provision of utility services, health care delivery and social cohesion, among others. In spite of these remarkable achievements, there are obvious indications of impediments preventing youth from exploring their potential and contributing actively to the national development process. Currently, national statistics show that the average youth unemployment rate is 8 per cent. Out of the total youth population of 9,698,576 (34.2 per cent of the national population), 63.5 per cent are economically active and 36.6 per cent are not in the labour market. The statistics also show that about 80 per cent of economically active youth are engaged in the informal economy, specifically in vulnerable employment. Many of these youth do not have access to health care, in particular mental and reproductive health services. The participation of youth in governance, decision-making and community development leaves much to be desired, as a result of cultural and structural barriers in this regard. This has culminated in lack of patriotism, low engagement, timidity and inexperience in governance and community development among youth. Young women and youth with disabilities are challenged by discrimination and inequities in the system, which leave them exposed to abuses, vulnerabilities and exclusion in the socio-economic development processes of the country.